The Indiana Republican Party saw its dean, Sen. Dick Lugar (R), go down in defeat Tuesday night to a primary opponent who didn’t carry the support of much of the GOP establishment. After Lugar had conceded defeat to Richard Mourdock, the party’s chair released a bittersweet statement.
From Indiana GOP chair Eric Holcomb:
“We join our fellow Hoosiers in thanking Senator Richard Lugar for serving his city, state and nation with honor and distinction over the years. We have been, and will continue to be, proud to call Dick Lugar one of our own.
” His accomplishments and dedication to Indiana will not be forgotten.”
Holcomb said this about Mourdock:
“We congratulate Richard Mourdock on becoming our Party’s nominee for U.S. Senate. He ran a people powered race and we look forward to an equally vigorous general election campaign.
“As our next United States Senator, Richard will be a forceful defender of our Party and principles as he stands up to the disastrous economic record of Barack Obama and Joe Donnelly, who made promises they didn’t keep and continue to promote policies that are bankrupting our country, saddling future generations with unsustainable debt.”
